Section 17: Commencement and short title
68.This section provides for certain provisions of the Act to come into force automatically six months after the granting of Royal Assent. The period of six months is required so as to enable the Scottish Executive and the Parliament to put in place the required structures, procedures, staffing and resources. The provisions of the Act which do not come into force six months after Royal Assent come into force on Royal Assent. Those provisions enable the Commissioner to be appointed prior to the Act coming fully into force.